Distinct Directions

20/02/2026

Support isn’t just for crisis moments.
It can help with everyday challenges like routines, transitions, emotional regulation, and building independence.

✨ Small supports = big changes.
Support works best before things feel overwhelming.

18/02/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬.💙
Meet 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞, one of our dedicated 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, she is passionate about supporting individuals and families with practical, person-centred, evidence-informed strategies that make everyday life easier.

Natalie supports participants and families across Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo & surrounding Central West communities and is now based at our new Orange office.

📍 8 McNamara St, Orange NSW
📩 Now accepting Behaviour Support referrals.

If you or someone you support is looking for compassionate, tailored Behaviour Support, our team is here to help.

𝗡𝗼-𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼.

15/02/2026

We’re growing in 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨 and we’re now welcoming new referrals!

Our Dubbo team provides practical behaviour support for individuals, families, and support networks across the region.

We work closely with Support Coordinators, GPs, schools, and carers to create clear, realistic strategies that make everyday life easier, not more complicated.

If you’re supporting someone who may benefit from behaviour support, we’re here to help.

📩 Contact us to refer or enquire
📨 admin@distinctdirections.com.au
☎️ (02) 6332 1833

13/02/2026

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 👋

Nicolaas is a Senior Psychologist (Clinical Psychologist) based in Bathurst, with 15 years of experience in clinical psychology. He has a special interest in clinical and neuropsychological assessment, individual psychotherapy, and family therapy.

Nicolaas takes a collaborative, empowering approach, supporting individuals and families to better understand themselves and play an active role in their mental health journey.

Outside of work, you’ll find him road-tripping or hiking with his dogs, at the gym, or gaming in his downtime.

Good news! Nicolaas currently has availability for new referrals! If you’re looking for compassionate and collaborative pscyhology support, now is the perfect time to connect. 📝

11/02/2026

💙💜 How good is this?!

A 12-hour netball game supporting youth mental health — what an incredibly powerful initiative by Out Of Touch Netball Club!

Youth mental health is something that touches every family, every friendship group, and every community. Seeing sport used to drive awareness, connection, and support for such an important cause is truly inspiring.

This event is open to everyone — not just Out of Touch players — so whether you join the game, cheer from the sidelines, or donate, every bit of support makes a difference.

We’re so proud to stand behind this amazing club as a 2026 sponsor.

Clear your diary for August 22nd and let’s get behind them and support something that truly matters. 💙💜

✨✨2026 MENTAL HEALTH FUNDRAISER ✨✨

💜12 HOUR CONTINUOUS NETBALL GAME 💜

This year we are proudly debuting our Mental Health Fundraiser.

On Saturday 22 August 2026, Out Of Touch Netball Club will be holding a non-stop 12 hour Netball game to raise money for headspace Bathurst.

headspace Bathurst offers a mix of outreach, in centre and telehealth appointments, for young people aged 12-25 including:

🤍Mental health & wellbeing
🤍Alcohol & other drug
🤍Physical and/or sexual health
🤍Work & study

We cannot think of a better organisation to help raise money for in 2026.

So mark your calendars and start prepping your team. This will be open to everyone, players, family members, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours.... Everyone is welcome!

If you are a business who would be interested in helping out please reach out to ootbathurst@outlook.com

Held at Bathurst Netball Association Courts on Durham Street, Bathurst this is surely going to be a great day out.

FAQs:

- It will be ONE continuous game with teams playing for a set period before being replaced with a new team. The idea is to have a non-stop game for 12 hours!
- Teams can be mixed (one day registrations will be required for insurance)
- more details to come!

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us!

Out of Touch Netball Club -

11/02/2026

We are now 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐨!

Our team offers behaviour support designed to meet people where they are supporting individuals, families, and referrers across our local community.

If you or someone you support is looking for services in Dubbo, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Get in touch to refer or enquire.
📨 admin@distinctdirections.com.au | ☎️ (02) 63321833

10/02/2026

Mental health isn’t failing because people don’t care.
It’s failing because too many are trying to survive in systems that make support hard to access.

Awareness matters, but access matters more.
Real support should be timely, inclusive, and available before crisis hits.
It’s time to stop blaming individuals and start fixing the systems meant to support them.

***This post is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional therapy or psychological services.***

09/02/2026

Asking for help is a strength. Taking the first step can change the direction of your journey. At Distinct Directions, we’re here to walk alongside you.

05/02/2026

Understanding behaviour takes more than one test or one moment.

Using the Funnel Approach, we look at the whole picture, data, lived experience, and real-world environments, so support is personalised, meaningful, and practical.

Because every person is distinct, and their support should be too.

***This post is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional therapy or psychological services.***

02/02/2026

Executive dysfunction affects everyday life for many people.
Understanding it helps us respond with compassion, not judgement.
When executive functions are supported, people can thrive.

***This post is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional therapy or psychological services.***

18/01/2026

Restrictive practice is often used with good intentions, but it can have lasting impacts.
At Distinct Directions, we believe support should protect dignity, choice, and emotional safety.

When we understand why behaviour happens, we can reduce the need for restriction and build supports that work, before crisis.

***This post is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional therapy or psychological services.***

16/01/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝?

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭
If you grew up being praised for being “easy,” “helpful,” or “independent,”
you may have learned to minimise your own needs to avoid burdening others.

𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐮𝐩
When needs were ignored, dismissed, or criticised in the past,
your brain learned that staying quiet felt safer than being rejected or hurt.

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
It’s hard to communicate needs if you’re unsure what you’re feeling.
Many people were never taught the language of emotions and that’s not your fault.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭, 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝
Speaking up can feel risky.
You might worry about upsetting others, being seen as “too much,” or damaging relationships.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝
When stress or anxiety is high, the body focuses on protection, not communication.
Shutting down or avoiding conversations can be a survival response.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐰
Difficulty expressing needs isn’t a weakness.
It’s a learned response shaped by experience, environment, and emotional safety.

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝
With understanding, patience, and the right support,
communicating your needs can become clearer, safer, and more confident.

Communicating your needs is a skill.
And like any skill, it can be supported, practised, and strengthened over time.

You are allowed to have needs.
You deserve to have them heard.